Straight bar knitting machines



Oct. 16, 1962 L. BROWN ETAL 3,058,325

' STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. so,- 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet I Mu..H 6151. 5.871211% Attorney Oct. 16, 1962 L. BROWN EI'AL STRAIGHT BAR xnn'rmc MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 50, 1958 F/GS.

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Attorney Oct. 16, 1962 Filed Oct. 30, 1958 L. BROWN ETAL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Invenior 6 lb w N y yhumq, ismxefl Attorney 0d. 16, 1962 L. BROWN ET AL 3,

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 30, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Attorney 3,ii58,325 STRAIGHT BAR KNETTKNG MA'CEWES Leonard Brown, Nottingham, Albert Barradell, Loughborongh, Leicestershire, and Neville Cuthbert Ladbrooite, Leicester, England, assigmors to William Cotton Limited, Longhborough, England Filed Get. 39, 15 55, Ser. No. 770,736 Ciaiins priority, appiieation Great Britain Nov. 5, 1957 ll Ciairns. (til. 65--8S) This invention relates to improvements in straight bar knitting machines, and primarily rib machines. In such latter machines there is usually provided adjustment means operable to ensure that suitable relative movements are effected between the machine needles and the frame needles which will cause the old loops and new yarn kinks to be disposed at suitable widely enough spaced positions on the machine needles for the machine needle beards to press between them.

However when certain yarn changes and/or quality changes are effected this can alter the relative dispositions between the loops and the needle beards and it becomes necessary to alter the said adjustments accordingly. This of course has to be done from time to time to suit the yarn and quality at the different times.

The application Serial No. 623,370 discloses the broad idea of having matched needles, knitting and idle in difterent beds in the production of plain knitting on all needles of one set at one time, and rib knitting on needles of each set at another time. However, it was found to be difficult to obtain a separation of old loops and new loops sufficient for the needle beard tips to be pressed between the old and new loops. The US. Patent 2,978,- 888 discloses an improvement of the earlier machine, and provides control means by which the old and new loops are maintained separately to permit the pressing of the needle beards.

However, the machine of the US. Patent 2,978,888 was only intended for knitting operations where there is a change between plain and rib knitting. The knitting machine of the present invention is provided with control means which are used for ordinary rib knitting which has the great advantage of avoiding the necessity for periodical adjustments in accordance with yarn changes, or other changes, such as the size of the loops. In other words, while the US. Patent 2,978,888 is concerned with the change between plain and rib knitting, the present invention is concerned with the control of old and new loops during ordinary rib knitting.

An object of the invention is to avoid the necessity for the adjustments to be effected from time to time for said purpose by providing means to locate the new yarn kinks in desired positions behind the beards positively.

The invention provides a straight bar knitting machine having a bed of simultaneously operable needles adapted to have knitted loops and newly fed yarn on them, yarn control elements associated with the needles and formed with yarn engaging abutments, and operating means adapted to effect such simultaneous displacement of the yarn control elements along the needle shanks as will cause the latters abutments to positively dispose the newly fed yarn in required position on the needles. Conveniently the needles are beard needles and the displacement of the yarn control elements is for their abutments to dispose the newly fed yarn clearly spaced from said loops and under the beards when the latter are open preparatory to the beards being closed.

The invention is primarily applicable to a rib machine, which machine is provided with one bed of needles simultaneously operable to knit one facial set of loops of rib fabric before the needles of another bed are simultaneously operable to knit the other facial set of loops 3,058,325 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 of the rib fabric, during which the newly fed yarn on the needles of the second bed extends thereon from loops knitted by the needles of the first bed, and wherein said yarn control elements are operable associated with the needles of said second bed for the positive positioning of the newly fed yarn to be on these needles.

The yarn control elements conveniently have pointed blade ends, and the operating means are adapted to effect such displacement of the yarn control elements as will cause their pointed blade ends to engage under the newly fed yarn and guide it into engagement with the abutments;

The yarn control elements also conveniently have their pointed blade ends slightly inclined upwardly to assist in guiding cast ofi? loops behind the needles with which the yarn control elements are associated, i.e. in a rib machine the horizontal needles.

The yarn control elements may be operably adapted to cooperate with the associated needles from a side, or above, or below the associated needles.

The yarn control elements may be mounted in association with mounting means for the bed of their associated needles but operably adapted for independent movements.

The operating means may comprise cam operating means and a cam on the main cam shaft of the machine, which cam is selectable for operation of required times by shogging of the cam shaft under control of pattern means.

The above and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the construction which will now be described, as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 to 7 show progressive steps in the production of rib fabric employing yarn control elements according to the invention,

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a needle and a yarn control element,

FIGURES 9' to 11 show possible modifications,

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view of the machine,

FIGURE 13 is a front view of part of the machine,

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a small part of the machine,

FIGURE 15 is a detail view of main cam shaft shogging means.

Referring now to FIGURES l to 8 of the drawings, a straight bar rib knitting machine is represented by machine beard needles 1, having beards 2 with tips 3, and being mounted by their shanks 4 being held by a needle bar 5, frame beard needles 6 having beards 7, and sinkers 8.

There are also provided yarn control elements 9 mounted in a support bar 10 and having tapered free end parts 11 with tips 12 and abutments 13 at the root ends of these tapered parts 11.

There is one of such yarn control elements 9 to each machine needle 1 and normally disposed with the abutments 13 and the free end parts 11 alongside the machine needles ll respectively as best seen in FIG. 8.

In the production of rib fabric, each course is produced first by the frame needles 6 being in a raised position (FIGURE 1) to receive a new yarn, there being old loops 14 on the frame needles 6 and old loops 15 on the machine needles l.

The frame needles 6 descend, with the sinkers 8 retracting until yarn kinks 16 of the new yarn (FIGURE 2) are ready for dropping onto the machine needles 1 oil the sinkers 8.

At the stage of the yarn kinks 16 dropping oft the sinkers 8, the relative position between needles 1 and control elements has changed and the yarn control elements 9 are so disposed that their abutments 13 are spaced a short distance away from the machine needle beard tips 3 in a direction towards the machine needle bar accordingly the yarn kinks 16 drop from the sinkers 8 into this space, each kink 16 being located on a needle 1 and on a control element 9 (FIGURE 3).

The yarn kinks =16 with old loops 15 on the machine needles 1 are normally at this stage fairly close together and adjustments in the machine are provided whereby normally, when the needle beards 2 are pressed, the beard points 3 press between the yarn kinks 16 and the old loops 15.

However when there is a yarn change and/or quality change, the tendency is for the yarn kinks 16 to become inaccurately placed unless, in the known arrangements, further adjustments are effected in the machine. To avoid the necessity for these further adjustments, the yarn control elements 9 are advanced (by means which may be of well known kind and are exemplified hereinafter) so that their abutments 13 push the yarn kinks 16 away from the oldloops 15 into a position well behind the machine needle beards 2 so that kinks 16 are posi tively located in this desired position clear of the beard tips 3 by the yarn control elements 9 (FIGURE 4) before pressing.

FIGURES 3 and 4 also show that during this time new loops 16a have been drawn from the yarn kinks 16, by the frame needles 6, through the old loops 14 on the frame needles 6. The machine needles 1 next advance to have their beards 2 pressed (FIGURE 5) so that the old loops 15 are landed on the beards 2.

The machine needles 1 then retract to knock-over (FIGURE 6) whereby new loops 16b of the yarn kinks 16 are drawn through the old loops 15.

At this stage the tendency is for the old loops 15 and new loops 16b to remain at the same level as the machine needles 1 (FIGURE 6). It must be ensured that when the machine needles next advance, they do so with the new loops 16b riding only on their shanks 4 clear of the yarn control elements 9. First, the yarn control elements 9 are advanced (FIGURE 7) beyond the ends of the machine needles 1 to a position adjacent to and projecting over the loops 16b. To facilitate this, the yarn control elements 9 are of thin-blade-like form with their free ends 11 having a tapered thickness (FIGURE 8) so as to provide a gap G between them and the tapered ends of the machine needles 1. In addition the free ends 11 of the yarn control elements 9 may be upturned as shown at 12 in FIGURES l to 7.

After this the yarn control elements 9 are retracted to their initial positions as in FIGURE 1 for the next course and so on.

FIGURE 9 shows that the yarn control elements 9 may be cranked as at 9b to provide not only the abutments but to spread loops if required say for the penetration by other needles.

FIGURE 10 shows that the yarn control elements 9 may operate from above the needles in co-operation with a groove 9c thereon, and FIGURE 11 shows that they can operate from below the needles by having a cranked and offset part 9d.

For operation of the machine utilizing the yarn control elements as shown in FIGURES 1 to 8, the machine is constructed according to FIGURES 12 to 15.

Referring now to FIGURE 12 the machine is constructed in conventional manner in respect of the sinkers 8, the knocking over bits 17, the thread carrier 18, the main cam shaft 19, the frame needles 6, and the 'latters cam operated mechanism. The frame needles 1 are held in a bar 20a to which an arm 20b of a bell crank lever 20 is secured. The other arm 20c of the bell crank lever 20 has two notches 20d, each of which can be placed on a pin 21:: on an arm 21b of a bell crank lever 21 whose other arm 21d supports a cam follow roller 21e which rides on the periphery of a cam disk 21] schematically shown as a circle in FIG. 12, and secured to cam shaft 19. Another bell crank lever 120 is turnably mounted on a shaft 121 and has an arm a with a cam follower 12Gb riding on a cam disk 120a secured to earn shaft 19 and schematically shown as a circle in FIG. 12.

The holding bar 102 of machine needles 1 is moved in conventional manner through the intermediary of a mounting rod 22 by arms 23 (also FIGURE '13) from a rocking shaft 24, the latter being rockable by follower lever 25 having a follower 26 for operation by a choice of three cams 27, 28, 29 schematically shown in FIG. 13 under control of shogging of the main cam shaft 19. This shogging of the main cam shaft 19 is effected by engagernent of followers (FIGURE 15) 30, 31 with a choice of cams 32, 33, 34 through the intermediary of link and lever means 35, a plunger 36 and spacing blocks 37, 38 adapted to be moved into and out of operative position determining the positions of the followers 30, 31 in relation to said earns 32, 33, 34 under control of pattern means represented generally at 39, with a restoring cam 40 and follower 41 movable also from said pattern means.

For needle beard pressing movements of the machine needles 1 there is a cam follower lever 42 with cam follower 43 co-operating with a cam 44 schematically shown in a circle in FIG. 12.

The yarn control elements 9 are mounted (FIGURES 12 to 14) in a bar 45 carried by horizontal arms 46 which are pivotally mounted on bracket arms 47 secured to said rod 22 of the machine needles mounting means. The arms 46 have supporting rollers 48 (to which downwardly biasing springs 48a are attached) which project outwardly therefrom and ride on fixed horizontal guides 49 carried by brackets 50 from the template rail 51 of the machine. The yarn control elements 9 are movable with the machine needles 2 by virtue of the rod 22 but they are also movable independently of the machine needles 1 in a direction towards and away from the frame needles 6. For these latter movements the rod 22 is freely turnable in the machine needle support arms 23, and is angularly displaced by a depending arm 52 which is secured to the rod 22 and has a pin and slot connection 53 with a follower lever 54, which latter is freely turnable on the shaft 24 and has a follower 55 co operating with a choice of three earns 56, 57, 58 schematically shown in FIG. 13 on the main cam shaft 19 under control of said shogging of the main cam shaft 19.

In the illustrated position of-the cams the machine is prepared for rib knitting during which the machine needles 1 and the yarn control elements 9 are operated by the cams 28 and 57 respectively which cams are shaped appropriately to obtain the movements required of the machine needles and yarn control elements according to FIGURES 1 to 7. Shogging of the cam shaft may be effected to render the other cams 27, 29, 56, 58 operable appropriately at required times for producing a slack course or a welt.

During movement from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2, and from the position of FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, cam 28 effects simultaneous advance of needles 1 and control elements 9 by moving shaft 22 through linkage 23, 24, 25, 26. Between the positions of FIGS. 2 and 3, control elements 9 are less advanced than the needles 1, since a corresponding track portion on cam 57 acting through linkage 55, 54, 53, 52, 47 reduces the advance of control elements 9 with needles 1 under control of cam 28. A cam track portion of cam 57 then effects advance of control elements 9 relative to needles 1 to push the kinks 16 under the beards 2 until the position of FIG. 4 is obtained. In the position of FIG. 5, the needles 1 and control elements 9 are raised by cam 44 through linkage 42, 42a, 42b, 42c, acting on needle bar 102 and shaft 22 so that beards 2 are pressed. Needles 1 and control elements 9 are the retracted under control of cam 28 to the position of FIG. 6. Then a cam track portion of cam 57 acts on follower 55 to advance control elements 9 relative to needles 1 so that the position of FIG. 7 is obtained. Cam followers 55 and 26 then run on cam track portions of cams 57 and 28 which place needles 1 and control elements 9 in the position of FIG. 1.

What we claim is:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine, in combination, a needle bar, and a set of machine needles mounted on said needle bar and having shanks, beards, and tips on said beards; a set of sinkers having noses respectively located in the region of said beards; a support member and a set of yarn control elements mounted on said support member and respectively located adjacent said machine needles, each yarn control element having an abutment and a free end beyond said abutment; and operating means operatively connected to said support member to move the same and said control elements relative to said machine needles for moving said control elements between a first relative position in which said abutments are spaced from the tips of said beards and located adjacent the shanks of said machine needles, and said free ends are under said sinker noses to receive, together with said machine needles, yarn kinks from the same, and a second relative position in which said abutments are disposed in the region of said needle beards whereby the yarn kinks are pushed under said beards and are held there by said abutments adapted to be spaced from old loops on the shanks of said machine needles so that said tips of said beards are located between old loops and new loops when said beards are pressed.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine, in combination, a needle bar, and a set of machine needles mounted on said needle bar and having shanks, beards and tips on said beards; a set of sinkers having noses respectively located in the region of said beards; a support bar and a set of yarn control elements mounted on said support bar and respectively located adjacent said machine needles, each yarn control element having an abutment and a free end beyond said abutment; and operating means including first means operatively connected to said needle bar and to said support bar for moving the same and said needles and control elements simultaneously and together relative to said sinkers, and second means operatively connected to said support bar to move the same and said control elements relative to said machine needles for moving said control elements between a first relative position in which said abutments are spaced from the tips of said beards and located adjacent the shanks of said machine needles, and said free ends are under said sinker noses to receive, together with said machine needles, yarn kinks from the same, and a second relative position in which said abutments are disposed adjacent said needle beards whereby the yarn kinks are pushed under said beards and are held there by said abutments adapted to be spaced from old loops on the shanks of said machine needles so that said tips of said beards are located between old loops and new loops when said beards are pressed.

3. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first means includes a shaft fixedly supporting said needle bar, a movable support supporting said shaft, and first control means for moving said movable support, and wherein said second means includes a lever means turnable on said shaft and connected to said support bar, guide means for guiding said support bar parallel to said machine needles, and second control means for moving said lever means.

4. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first control means includes a rotary cam and a cam follower connected to said movable support, and wherein 6 said second control means includes a rotary cam and a cam follower connected to said needle means; and including a cam shaft carrying said cams.

5. In a straight bar knititng machine, in combination, a needle bar, and a set of machine needles mounted on said needle bar and having shanks, beards, and tips on said beards; a set of sinkers having noses respectively located in the region of said beards; a support bar and a set of yarn control elements mounted on said support bar and respectively located adjacent said machine needles, each yarn control element having an abutment and a free end beyond said abutment; and operating means including first means connected to said needle bar for advancing and retracting said needles, second means operatively connected to said support bar to move the same and said control elements relative to said machine needles, and third means interconnecting said first and second means for effecting relative movement of said needles and control elements between -a first relative position in which said abutments are spaced from the tips of said beards and located adjacent the shanks of said machine needles, and said free ends are under said sinker noses to receive, together with said machine needles, yarn kinks from the same, and a second relative position in which said abutments are disposed adjacent said needle beards whereby the yarn kinks are pushed under said beards and are held thereby said abutments adapted to be spaced from old loops on the shanks of said machine needles so that said tips of said beards are located between old loops and new loops when said beards are pressed.

6. -A knitting machine as set forth in claim 5 and including guide means for guiding said support bar and said control elements parallel to said machine needles.

7. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control elements are disposed above the respective machine needles, said machine needles having grooves for receiving said free ends of said control elements and said tips of said beards.

8. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control elements are disposed under the respective needles and have a cranked portion forming said abutment.

9. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said free ends of said control elements taper in thickness.

10. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said free ends are upturned and adapted to abut on loops retained on said machine needles.

1 1. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control elements and said machine needles are located in a common plane and wherein said abutments of said control elements are laterally cranked portions located in said plane for spreading loops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,254 Peberdy May 13, 1862 621,723 Lowe May 21, 1899 1,941,903 Lieberknecht Jan. 2, 1934 2,010,624 Clauss Aug. 6, 1935 2,236,325 Vorck Mar. 25, 1941 2,339,153 Cotterill Jan. 11, 1944 2,428,405 Young Oct. 7, 1947 2,430,882 Ludwig Nov. 18, 1947 2,469,360 Amidon May 10, 1949 2,480,175 Young Aug. 30, 1949 2,775,108 Bellini Dec. 25, 1956 2,978,888 Ladbrooke Apr. 11, 1961 

